Celtics midseason power rankings: Who’s the the first half MVP?
Few teams in the NBA entered the All-Star break playing better basketball than the Celtics in the past month. Armed with a healthy roster and improving young core, Brad Stevens has this group excelling on both ends of the floor in recent weeks, winning 13 of their past 17 games overall.
The hot streak has catapulted the Celtics into the No. 3 spot in the East, creating an interesting dilemma for Danny Ainge and the front office during trade deadline week. Will Ainge hold pat and ride out the team’s success or will he elect to sell high on some young prospects in order to land a bigger fish?
Let’s look at some potential candidates that could be on the move in this week’s edition of the player power rankings.
15. Terry Rozier – The No. 16 overall pick has been biding his time on the Celtics bench for most of his rookie season, but teammate Isaiah Thomas told Amico Hoops that big things lie ahead for the 21-year-old. “He’s a guard that is very talented and has a lot of skills,’’ said Thomas. “Once he does get his chance, I know he’s going to take advantage of it. He’s going to be a really good guard in this league.’’
14. R.J. Hunter – Lackluster shooting percentages from the two-guard during his final year at Georgia State (39.5 percent from field, 30.5 percent from 3-point range) were thought to be a fluke. However, a dismal shooting start to his rookie campaign with the Celtics and Red Claws indicates that the first-round pick has something to prove in that department over the next couple months.
13. James Young – The youngest member of the Celtics is on pace to play fewer minutes than he saw in his rookie season (332). With a loaded backcourt already in place, there’s no clear path for Young to earn minutes in Boston on the wing anytime soon.
12. Jordan Mickey – Despite being picked in the second round, Mickey was the first-half bright spot among Celtics rookies. Only two other 2015 draft picks were selected to the D-League All-Star Game besides the rookie forward out of LSU.
11. David Lee – Expiring contracts aren’t worth much in this trade climate, making it likely that the Celtics will have to include a future draft pick or two in order for a team to take the 31-year-old’s $15 million salary off their hands.
10. Jonas Jerebko – If he made enough attempts to qualify, Jerebko would rank eighth overall in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (42.9 percent), ahead of sharpshooters like Klay Thompson and Doug McDermott.
9. Amir Johnson – The veteran’s status as a starter may be in doubt for the remainder of the season if his minutes continue to dwindle. He has averaged only 18.3 minutes per game in the month of February, with lackluster production (4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds) in those limited stints.
8. Tyler Zeller – For most of the season the fourth-year center was a likely candidate to be dealt away by Thursday’s trade deadline. That mindset may have changed with Zeller’s recent resurgence. The seven-footer has played in 12 of Boston’s last 13 games and is averaging 10.2 points per game in February.
7. Kelly Olynyk – The Canadian big man had to turn down an invitation to participate in the 3-Point Shootout on All-Star weekend due to a shoulder contusion suffered against the Clippers last Wednesday. Luckily for the Celtics, the 23-year-old isn’t expected to miss any games with the ailment.
6. Jared Sullinger – While Isaiah Thomas received the most accolades following Wednesday’s overtime win over the Clippers, the unsung hero from that contest was Sullinger. The power forward flirted with a triple-double (21 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) in the victory, cementing a strong stretch for the 6-foot-9 forward in which he’s scored in double-digits for four of his last five games.
5. Evan Turner – Concerns about the swingman’s horrific 3-point shooting have faded in recent weeks as he’s only attempted four shots from downtown in the last month. Without the deep ball weighing down his numbers, Turner has been a vital contributor off the pine for Brad Stevens. He’s scored 10 or more points in 11 of his last 13 games.
4. Marcus Smart – Since spending some extra time working on his shooting stroke due to a Snow Day on Jan. 23 in Philadelphia, Smart is hitting 42.9 percent of his 3-point attempts, the highest mark on the team over Boston’s past 12 games.
3. Jae Crowder – The small forward has earned plenty of admirers with his terrific play on both ends this season, but Clippers coach Doc Rivers handed him some elite praise last Wednesday. “He’s one of the mentally toughest guys in the league. He’s a great example that you can be tough and mean and a great guy at the same time. That’s what you like about him,’’ Rivers said.
2. Avery Bradley – Outside of fouling too many jump shooters in the past week, Bradley’s first half has been a promising step forward, highlighted by a career-high 15.1 ppg.
1. Isaiah Thomas – With his first All-Star appearance in the books, Thomas is now setting his sights on becoming a regular at the festivities. “I’m getting back again next year, no doubt,’’ said Thomas, via CSNNE.com. “Like I said, I want to make it an every year thing, something I get used to every February. I just have to keep working.’’
Potential free agent targets for the Celtics
[bdc-gallery id=”464712″]
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com